Editors' Blog Blogger Bio

Finally, Some Golf

All the electricity surrounding the 62nd U.S. Women's Open has been up in the skies surrounding the Southern Pines area the last few days. But finally, they're getting around to playing some golf.

Second-round play resumed this morning at 7:35 a.m. after play was suspended on Friday at 5:30 p.m. with 132 players yet to complete the second round, many of which had yet to tee off. Among those players completing their second round this morning was defending champion Annika Sorenstam, who woke up early to hit just three shots--an approach to the 9th green and two putts. The three strokes completed a disappointing 77 for Sorenstam, who is 5-over par overall.

"I might go back to bed," said Sorenstam following her brief morning appearance. "I got off to a terrible start on Friday. Luckily, I bounced back and shot even par on the back. That didn't put me too far behind."

Sorenstam is currently eight shots back of the leader, Angela Park, who is 3 under after six holes this morning. Park birdied her first hole of the day, the par-5 10th, to move to 4 under, but bogeyed the 12th. Other notable scores of note this morning include Lorena Ochoa (+1 thru 3 holes), Morgan Pressel (-1 thru 4) and Michelle Wie (+2 thru 3, +13 overall). Alexis Thompson, the youngest player ever to compete in the U.S. Women's Open at age 12, shot an 11-over 82 and finished at 16 over for the tournament.

Even at 5 over, Sorenstam expects to be in the mix this weekend. A winner here at Pine Needles in 1996, Sorenstam is playing in just her third tournament since missing almost two months with a neck injury.

"I'm not too far behind, but I'm going to need two good rounds," said Sorenstam. "The good thing is that it's the U.S. Open and there are always high scores. Who knows how I'll finish by the end of the day. If you play the weekend and you play solid, who knows. I've been around long enough to know that you have to be patient."